Tips to win 50th cap against Ireland

By Rhyd Cole | 08/03/2017

Justin Tipuric will win his 50th cap as Wales name an unchanged matchday squad to face Ireland at Principality Stadium on Friday (KO 20.05 BBC/S4C).

Justin Tipuric will win his 50th cap as Wales name an unchanged matchday squad to face Ireland at Principality Stadium on Friday (KO 20.05 BBC/S4C).

Tipuric, who made his debut in Cardiff in 2011, will take to the field in his 25th RBS 6 Nations encounter and line-up alongside Sam Warburton and Ross Moriarty in the back-row. Captain Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball continue their partnership in the second-row with Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis named in the front-row.

Liam Williams, George North and Leigh Halfpenny comprise the back-three as Wales welcome Ireland to Cardiff.

“We felt it was important the same group of players had the opportunity to go out and perform on Friday so we have named an unchanged match-day squad,” said Wales Head Coach Rob Howley.

“Friday night is an opportunity for us. There is a lot of experience in our group and you don’t become a bad team overnight. We want to show what we can do and that experience will be very important this week.

“We know we need to be more clinical and we need to execute better under pressure and we have been working hard on that during the last few weeks.

“Ireland are one of the in-form sides in world rugby and are coached very well and packed with experience and there are a number of interesting match-up across both teams.

“We always say we are fortunate to have the best supporters in the world and we are eager to put in a performance for them under the lights at Principality Stadium on Friday.”